Chapter 8: Amagi Brilliant Park

MC POV:

Today, my mother took me and Rito to the amusement park. Dad had to stay home to take care of Mikan as she was only one year old.

The park was full of people. Due to the park being so popular, getting lost in the crowd was very easy, forcing me to pay attention to where my younger brother and the airheaded mother were at all times.

Usually, I would rather stay at home than go to such a noisy and crowded place to waste time. However, there was something that piqued my curiosity this time around.

At first, I thought that the name of this place may be just a coincidence, but now I am sure. This amusement park called Amagi Brilliant Park is the same park from the series under the same name.

After five years, this is the second inconsistency with the To Love-ru I was familiar with from my past. It also means that this world isn't the world of To Love-ru but a mix of different anime.

Why am I so sure? Not that long ago, I realized that the person my father currently works for is the uncle of one of the protagonists of a manga called Bakuman. Another reason is the perverted sheep in front of me.

You can try to hide it as much as you want, but I know you looked at my mom with perverted eyes. After awakening the [Indomitable Will], I became much more sensitive towards intent directed at me.

I was already able to do it thanks to developing my [Instinct], another ability that saved me some unnecessary pain, but the innate made it even more powerful.

"Hello boy, ron!! My name is Macaron, the fairy of music, ron!! Do you want a balloon, ron!? Maybe your older sister wants one, ron?" Macaron, the perverted sheep-like mascot-looking creature, said energetically after approaching us.

That perverted sheep.

"Oh my. I am a mother, not a sister, but thank you." my mother said, happy for the compliment.

Can you not get so happy after being praised by a random mascot? Is dad praising you so rarely that a compliment from a 'mascot' makes you this happy?

"Mom, leave this pervert in a costume. We were supposed to go to the Etcet Land first." I said, not wanting to waste any more time.

"Don't be rude, Arthur! I am sorry for his behavior. He is usually such a good kid." she said, an apologetic expression on her face.

It said nothing wrong. That person is a pervert.

"...N-no, I don't mind, ron. He is just a kid, ron. I won't take more of your time, ron." the 'mascot' said, and left.

Soon after, we went in the direction of Etcet Land. I won't take revenge since I know he will be harassed by other children anyway.

For now, that is.

***

Meeting that sheep reassured me that we were in the Amagi Brilliant Park I know. That being the case, there is a cute girl I can help and get some good karma as a bonus.

With that thought in mind, I used the crowd to sleep away and quickly ran towards Maple Castle, using the map in my head.

The castle was in the most extensive part of the park, called Sorcerer's Hill, where it was possible to find many other attractions like Heart-Pounding Coaster, Ferris Wheel, Free Fall, and Coffee Cup.

They don't have the best security, do they?

I was able to enter Maple Castle without anyone stopping me. With so many customers, it wasn't a surprise they were understaffed. Still, leaving their literal reason for being here without protection was dumb.

Now then, time to find the princess. I don't remember everything about the story as I read it only in my past life, but I still remember something.

I am not sure about its source, but the princess got inflicted with a curse that prevented her from aging and erased memories of the past year annually, on August 1st at sunset.

It took some time to make my parents take me here on that date, but I think it was worth it.

I doubt I will be able to get rid of the curse since there wasn't enough time to read in detail about curses before today. Not to mention, I couldn't be sure if it wasn't just a regular theme park. If that was the case and I spent time learning how to lift curses, to which I am immune, it would be a waste of time.

I won't be able to remove the curse yet, but I should be able to help her not lose memories. The purpose of this park is to gather the energy released by people to weaken the curse. That being the case, I can supplement that energy using Origin.

After walking through many rooms, I entered a room with a big balcony, where I found a crying girl on her knees. Based on her appearance, she was around fourteen years old. Her hair was long and blond, and she was wearing a white ball gown and a tiara on her head.

"Are you alright?" I asked innocently while internally sighing.

I feel bad for tricking her, but it can't be helped. I am not supposed to know anything, so I have to make her explain the situation first.

"Eh?! Who are you, and why are you here?"(???) she said while wiping away her tears.

Poor thing. If I ever find the wizard that cursed her, I won't let him off easily.

"My name is Arthur, and I am lost. What is your name, big sister?" I replied and asked back.

After the initial surprise, a light of understanding flashed across her eyes.

"Oh, so you were lost? My name is Latifa Fleuranza," she replied.

"Latifa? Can I call you like that? It's such a beautiful name, hahaha." I said so while giving her a radiant smile.

I hate it more and more.

"Do you want me to help you find your parents?" Latifa offered.

She is so kind even in such a situation. She doesn't deserve to suffer like this.

"Yes, please, but why were you crying? Did something bad happen?" I asked, putting on a worried expression.

"N-no... It's nothing... It's not like I can talk about something like that with a kid..." she answered, slightly taken aback.

"Eh?! I am not just a kid!! And I am sure you will feel better if you tell about this to someone!" I protested with a slight pout, trying to appear cute.

Why do I have to go through this humiliation..?

"Ok, ok. I will tell you. It's not like it changes anything." Latifa said to appease me. "You see, whether you believe me or not, I am a real princess, and I come from a place called Maple Land," she said and looked at me to gauge my reaction.

"That's amazing! A real princess!!" I exclaimed in 'excitement', like any child in my position would if they believed her.

She smiled slightly and started laughing a little.

"Hahaha, I am glad you believe me." she smiled slightly. "My father, the king, ordered the construction of this park to help me. A few years ago, I got cursed by a wizard, and because of that, I am losing energy called Anima, which is something we maple landers can't live without." Latifa explained.

"Eh!? Why would he curse you? Big sister looks so pretty and like a good person!!" I exclaimed, once again putting on display my acting skills.

Her perception of me is likely affected by The Orb. I have no right to complain since it works in my favor.

Soon after, her face became a little gloomy, while her eyes showed a hint of melancholy.

"You see, my father promised my hand to a wizard for defeating a powerful dragon that pillaged our kingdom for years. But instead of keeping his promise, he ordered the execution of that wizard. That's why he cursed me. He did it to get back at my father. Besides making me constantly lose the Anima, the curse also annually erases my memories of the previous year while making my body eternally fourteen." she said, visibly on the verge of crying.

Hearing her, I felt a mix of different emotions. I felt both immense sadness and rage. She did nothing wrong and yet ended up in such a dire situation because of the whims of others.

At least this expression isn't something I have to fake...

"So the reason you were crying is..." I said, allowing my words to hang.

"Yes, today I will lose my memories again..." Latifa finished, giving it her all not to fall on the floor and start crying again.

"I understand everything until now except one thing. What this amusement park has to do with Anima?" I asked sad yet puzzled look on my face.

"Human happiness, also called human animus, can be a temporary source. The problem is that despite everyone giving it their all it's not enough," Latifa answered, and as if her last words were a signal for the waterways to open again, she started crying.

"Then I will help you!!! I don't think I can break the curse just yet, but I will do it for sure in the future!!!" I exclaimed to show my support.

"Eh? But you are just a child. What can you do...?" she asked, puzzled and still crying.

"If you need happiness, take mine!" I said, then ran up and hugged her after kneeling.

Got damn it!!! Why do I have to say such embarrassing lines!?

"Eh?!" Latifa exclaimed in surprise, her face slightly reddening due to also feeling embarrassed.

I looked up at her, as even with both of us on our knees, she was still taller than me.

"How much time is left?" I asked.

"I think roughly twenty minutes," she replied, still embarrassed.

I took a deep breath and made the Origin coursing through me flow into her body, causing her a bit of a startle, but feeling warm energy filling her body, Latifa hugged me back and closed her eyes.

Origin's greatest aspect was its ability to change following the user's intent.

It's possible to use it both to heal and attack as it can take on the characteristics of any attribute. It can turn into the purest kind of any energy, but the downside is that it's still too hard to control and maintain outside of my body. I can make it a bit easier by getting in contact with the target, but it still requires a considerable focus.

While guiding Origin through her body and effectively mapping its structure, I finally found the core responsible for keeping the anima, discovering it was nearly empty.

It seems, that the park can supply barely enough energy to prevent the curse from draining it all.

After a while, I filled her core, leaving me with a lot to spare. I was able to achieve that mostly because Origin can't maintain its form after getting cut off from my will and converts into lower forms of energy, substantially increasing the amount, allowing me to produce more than the whole park. Since I intended her to absorb it, The Origin inside her promptly downgraded to the highest and purest form of energy she could assimilate.

Now, I can only wait.

One minute. Two minutes. Five minutes. Time went by while both of us were in complete silence.

"I-I still remember everything...*sob sob*... It's already past the time, and I still remember everything *sob sob* t-thank you, truly thank you... waa!!" Latifa squeezed me tighter as she kept thanking me over and over, crying from joy.

"Don't mind it," I replied, smiling gently.

As I was patting her back with my small hand, a quest window appeared right in front of my eyes, with a *Ping* sound.

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Hidden Quest: Importance of Memory

Status: Completed

Completion Grade: B

Rewards: Latifa's affection, 10,000 positive karma, Quest function unlocked

Note: Repeatable until a permanent solution is found.

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Such a mood killer…